Dyspraxia - not the end of the world. (My experience of Dyspraxia)

Member Name: mandy

Product:	My experience of Dyspraxia
Date:	24/10/00 (105 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Dyspraxia results in everyone working as a team.

Disadvantages: Can make you feel alone or your child a target for bullies.

I have a young son of 9 who has been diagnosed with Dyspraxia which is often called 'clumsy child syndrome'. We first thought that there was a problem when instead of toddling and standing on his own feet, by the age of two years he was still off-balance.
As he reached three he was still in nappies, Talking was hit and miss and walking proved to be causing balance and aches and pains in his legs. My own doctor thought that he was making things up and so was I. However he referred him for x-rays and to see an ortopaedic paediatrician.
Still nothing came out of the x-rays so after feeling useless I began to think that it was me with the problem so we sent him to school as normal at four.
While there the teacher, who was also the primary school SENCO, also stated the facts that she assumed there was a medical problem. Now with the back up of the school doctor and his teacher again my son was rereferred to the paedriatrician.
He had to undergo blood tests, more x-rays, mmr scans, physio therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. He joined a 'young achievers club' for children with the same problems and it brought him on greatly.
At school because of speech problems, poor balance, not being able to read or write properly and swelling of knee joints he was also issued a wheelchair for long journeys.
He is now nine years old and it has been a hard slog for all the family. He no longer has to have therapies as often although he still has regular check-ups with his paedriatrician. He still finds things go too fast for him and children still take the mickey out of him for being a little slower than they are. He has just learned how to use a knife and fork properly and how to tie laces a little but he will keep on trying.
The hardest thing was knowing that there was something wrong and not being able to get anyone to believe us. My husband finds it hard sometimes to cope with him on his own, his brother can't understand
why he gets extra attention and sometimes I get really stressed out myself.
He is a loving normal boy in a body that finds it hard to keep up with others the same age But he will always be determined in learning. It is only a pity that other children and parents find it hard to be less prejudiced against his 'minor' disabilities.
Thanks for the support of the Special Educational Needs Co-Operative his problem would have stayed in my imagination.

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